Portable elevator



E. N. HESCOCK PORTABLE ELvAToR Filed June' 2o. 1922 sheets-sheet 1 y :i lgl/ENTQR l BM@ ATToRNEY Jan. I 29, 1924. 1,482.3@2

E.N.HE$COCK PORTABLE ELEVATOR Filed June` 20. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 29, 1924.

TTES ETHAN N. HESCOCK, QF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NEW JERSEY FOUN- DRY AND MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION F NEW JlilRskf.

PORTABLE nnnva'ron.

Application led June 20, 1922. Serial No. 562,737.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ETHAN N. Hnscocx, a citizen of the United States, residind at Westfield, in the county" of Union and tate `L of New JerseyQhave madecertain new and useful Improvements in Portable Elevators, of which the following` is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates tol hoist mechanism and more particularly to hoist mechanism which is used with portable elevators.

My invention further relates to the combination of such hoist mechanism with a portable elevator. Y

Portable elevators are used to stack or tier bags, bales, boxes, barrels, rolls, bundles, textiles, leather, tobacco or in fact any material where it is desired to stack articles one ,upon the other to utilizeV all the storage space available. Such portable elevators may be used at one time for stacking one class ofarticles, and immediately thereafter another class of articles of diiferent weightand'bullz.

By my invention I can raise the platform with its load at a relatively slow speed, and permit it to descend atslow speed after depositing its load, orto save time and labor expense, permit the platform to descend at a relatively high speed, the platform at all times being under control to avoid a too rapid descent which mightinjur'e the apparatus or the workmen.

My invention .further relates to` certain 35 combinations ofelements and details of construction which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

Various forms of apparatus .may be employed to carry out my invention. For the `purpose of illustrating my invention andits mode of operation, I have shown in the drawings one form which I preferably employ, but to which vI am not to be limited.

In the accompanying drawings the same reference numerals refer to similar parts, in the several figures.

Of the drawings: i Fig. 1 is side elevation of a portable elevator equipped with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows; A

Fig.V 3 is a vertical section substantially -on the line 3-,3V of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectlon substantially,

on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, the coil spring being omitted. y

In the drawings 1 is a portable elevator, having a frame 2, traction wheels 3, 3 (only one appearing in the drawings) a swivel traction wheel 4, a handle 5, a movable platform6 anda vertical support or guide 7. In the drawings, the platform 6 is shown with a box 8 being raised to stack or tier it. The rope 9 passes over the pulley 10 and is engaged around the pin 11 carried by the platform 6. Any particular arrangement yof these elements so far described` may be employed, for my invention relates partic- 'ul-arly to the hoist mechanism for raising and loweringthe platform 6.

The rope or flexible member 9 is wrapped `around the winding drum 12. This drum is secured to a drum gear 13, both the drum and gear being loosely mounted upon the axle 14. Adjacent to the periphery of the drum gear 13 is the axle 15 on which is loosely mounted the connected gear wheels 16 and 17, the former in mesh with the teeth of the drumgear andV the latter `in mesh iwith the pinion 18, This pinion is loosely Vmounted upon an axle 19, which is provided with cam surfaces, Apreferably in the form of screw-threads 20, which'cooperate with ,female screw-threads 21 in the friction disc 22, Fig. 2. The pinion 18 is connected. in any suitablemanner with the two friction discs 234 and 24. Preferably, this connection -is such that a very slight relative lateral "cessesY 62 in the Vfrictionldiscv 23;A the lugs 61,A 6,1 fit into and cooperate with the grooves Vor recesses ,63. 63 in the friction disc 24.

rIliis` insures that the friction discs 23 and 2,4.willl rotate Withthe pinion, 1.8, but may have a slightrelative lateral movement with relation to it.

-Withnthe frieden die@ 2.4 and. the pinion 18 I preferably form a chamber 26 within which I mount a coil spring 27. Between the faces of the friction discs 22 and 23, I may mount any suitable form of friction ring 23. Adjacent to the friction disc 24 is mounted a brake wheel 29 having an apertured central portion 30, which is adapted to be loosely mounted upon the axle 19. The periphery of the brake wheel 29 is provided with `a groove 31 within which is mounted a brake band 32. The friction disc 33 is also loosely mounted upon the axle 19 and abuts against a shoulder 34 formed on the axle 19 and integral with it. The end 35 of the axle 19 is formed angular in cross section to cooperate with a removable hand crank 36. The axle 19 is supported in the vertical support or guide 7 and also in a bearing 37 mounted upon the frame 38.

To raise the platform 6, with its load 8, the hand crank 36 is mounted on the end 35 of the axle 19, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and is rotated counter clockwise. This will cause the cam surfaces or screw-threads 2O and 21 to cooperate with each other and force the friction disc 22 to `the right, Fig. 2, moving with it the friction surfaces 28, the friction disc 23, pinion 18, friction disc 24, brake wheel 29, and friction disc 33, and clamp these Amembers firmly together against the shoulder 34 on lthe axle 19. This will then cause all these parts to operate together in unison and rotate as one with ythe axle 19 so that the continued rotation of the axle 19 willrotate the pinion 18 and through it the gears 17, 16 and 13 to wind the rope 9 upon the winding drum 12 to raise the platform 6.

This will also cause the brake wheel 29 to rotate in the direction of the arrow Fig. 3, against the slight friction of the brake band 32 secured at one end around the pin 41 and held at its-other end by a coil spring 42, secured to a screw43 controlled by a wing nut 44. The arrangement'is such that in raising a load the friction of the `fixed friction band 32 is comparatively slight acting against the resiliency of the coiled spring 42,4 the, friction not being suiiicient to apprec-iably retard the elevation ofthe platform 6. v

This brake band 32 is provided with a friction surface 45. The friction discs 46 and 47 of'any suitable friction material are mounted between the brake wheel 29 and the respective friction discs 23 and 24.

scent of,V the insaoe descend at a relatively low speed I exert pressure upon the hand crank 36 in the opposite direction to that required to raise the load, letting thel hand crank rotatewith the axle 19, butat the same time exerting a retarding action upon the crank 36 in the nature ofback pedalling on a bicycle not equipped with a coaster brake. This will cause the friction disc 22 with its screw7F threads 21 to move slightly upon the screw threads 20 upon the axle 19 sufficient to per mit arelative slipping of the pinion 18 with its friction disc 23 and 24 upon the discs'22 and the brake wheel 29 so that the pinion 18, together with the other gears 17, 16 and 13 will permit the winding drum 12 to rotate slowlyy and permit the platform to slowly descend. This platform, however', lwill, be instantly stopped in any position by simply letting up on the back pressure on the crank 36. Such action will immediately cause the screw-threads 20 and 21 to opervate to move the friction disc 22 with the pinion 18 and its friction discs 23 and 24 to the right of Fig 2 and jam the parts together locking the brake wheel 29 between the friction disc 33 and the friction disc 24. Any further downward movement, after the parts 'are locked together, will cause the brake wheel 29'to attempt to rotate, but iti-r rotation will be prevented by the brake-band 32 which has one `end fast to the fixed pin 41. The platform 6 will therefore be held automatically and instantly at any point where the back pressure, orback pedalling, ceases upon the hand-crank 36.

I also provide means to permit the plai-d form 6 to be lowered under vcontrol at a relatively high speed so that it can be brought back quickly with the minimum effort to its loading position.

In the particular form of apparatus which I have illustrated,by way of example, I mount another axle 50, having a squared end 51 for the reception of the hand crank 36. or another hand crank if desired. On this axle I mount a yoke 52 having two arms 53, 53 between which is mounted a lug 54 carried by the brake'ring 32. To lowerV the platform 6 quickly, I remove the hand crank 36 from the axle 19 and place it upon the end 51 .of the axle 50 and rotate it slightly against the action of thc coiled spring 42, so as to lessen the friction of the brake'ring 32 upon the brake wheel29. By moving the crank slightly the platform 6 maybe low ered at any desired speed. At all times, however, the platform can be instantly ar rested by simply removing the pressure from the crank 36 permitting the spring 42 tol again function, which will cause the braking action of the brake ring 32 upon the brake wheel 29 to immediately stop the devplatform at any point in iis descent.

Sil

After the platform has been brought back into its loading position and again loaded the crank 36 is removed from the axle 50 and again placed on the end of the axle 1%) when the operation of raising the platform 6 is repeated.

Having thus described this invent-ion in connection with an illustrative embodiment thereof, to the details of which I do not desire to be limit-ed, what is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a hoist mechanism the combination of a rotating member, hoisting means and automatic braking means mounted on said rotating member, means to rotate the rotating member in one direction to raise a load, and means to retard the rotationof said member to slowly lower the load and at the same timeprevent the operation of the automatic braking means.

2. In a hoist mechanism the combination of a rotating member, hoisting means and automatic bra-king means mounted on said rotating member, means to rotate the rotating member in one direction to raise a load, and means to retard the rotation of said member to slowly lower the load and at the same time prevent the operation of the automatic braking means and means to lower the load at a relatively high speed.

3. In a hoist mechanism the combination of a rotating axle, a pinion loosely mounted on the axle, friction discs loosely mounted on the axle, a brake member loosely mounted on the axle, means to clamp said loose members together on rotation of the axle in one direction and to permit slipping of the parts when the loose members rotate or tend to rotate faster than the axle, and friction means bearing upon the brake member.

a. In a hoist mechanism the combination of a rotating axle, a pinion loosely mounted on 'the axle, friction discs loosely mounted on the axle, a brake member loosely mounted on the axle, means to clamp said loose members together on rotation of the axle in one direction and to permit slipping of the parts when the loose members rotate or tend to rotate faster than the axle, friction means bearing upon the brake member, and means to control the friction of said friction member to permit quick rotation of the loose members on the axle.

5. In a hoist mechanism the combination of a rotating axle, a pinion loosely mounted on the axle, friction discs loosely mounted on the axle, a brake member loosely mounted on the axle, means to clamp said loose members together on rotation of the axle in one direction and to permit slipping of the parts when the loose members rotate or tend to rotate faster than the axle, and a brake band bearing upon the brake member.

6. In a hoist mechanism the combination of a rotating axle, a pinion loosely mounted on the axle, friction discs loosely mounted on the axle, a brake member loosely mounted on the axle, means to clamp said loose members together on rotation of the axle in one direction and to permit slipping of the parts when the loose members rotate or tend to rotate faster than the axle, a brake band bearing upon the brake member, and means to control the friction of the brake band upon the brake member to permit quick rotation of the loose members on the axle.

7. In a portable elevator the combination of a frame, a movable platform to be raised and lowered, an axle, friction discs, hoist mechanism including a pinion and a rotating brake member loosely mounted upon said axle, a cam connection between the axle and one of the loose friction members, a fixed brake member bearing upon the rotating brake member, means to rotate the axle to lift the movable platform, said rotating means adapted to rotate with but retard the rotation of the axle to control the friction of the brake member and permit the platform to be lowered slowly.

8. In a portable elevator the combination of a frame, a movable platform to be raised and lowered, an axle, friction discs, hoist mechanism, including a pinion and a rotating brake member loosely mounted upon said axle, a cam connection between the axle and one of the loose friction members, a fixed brake member bearing upon the rotating brake member, means to rotate the axle to lift the movable plat-form, and means to control the action of the fixed brake member to permit the platform to be lowered at a relatively high speed.

ETHAN N. HESCOCK. Witnesses E. F. SMITH, R. IRWIN. 

